The Japan Times - EU lawmakers back proxy voting for pregnant women, new mothers

Voting at the EU body is currently only possible in person -- something that critics said unfairly penalises women, as some might have to skip key sessions before or after giving birth.

On Thursday, lawmakers backed updating the rules to allow colleagues who are pregnant or have recently given birth to delegate a fellow parliamentarian to vote in their place.

"No woman should have to choose between serving her voters and having children," Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, hailing the "landmark" proposal adopted to cheers from women's rights advocates.

The changes would allow proxy voting for up to three months before the estimated date of birth and six months after childbirth.

"This is real progress," said French socialist lawmaker Chloe Ridel, 33, who will give birth to her first child in less than a month, noting a single vote was often enough to swing key decisions.

- 'United in Motherhood' -

Approval from member states is needed before the new rules can enter into force.

Meanwhile young mothers have to make do.

Some have started a WhatsApp group called "United in Motherhood" to share tips -- such as where to change a nappy in parliament -- and advocate for change.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm not being a good mother or a good lawmaker," Leila Chaibi said of dealing with the dual pressure of motherhood and a career in politics.

The 43-year-old French parliamentarian from the radical Left group first brought up the inequity of current rules during pregnancy in 2023, starting a campaign that resulted in Thursday's vote.

A clip of her raising the issue with Metsola in parliament has gathered more than 1.5 million views on TikTok, where she now documents her daily life as a mother and lawmaker.

Parliament did not extend proxy voting rights to fathers, as some on the left had wished to do.

"That we do this for mothers now is a good step, but I think it should have been done for all parents," Daniel Freund of the Greens told parliament, adding that he twice had to choose between attending parliament or the birth of his children.

"Members of parliament in 2025 should not have to make that call."

K.Hashimoto--JT